First Aid For Horse Injuries - Cuts & Lacerations (2 of 2)

Third, Examine The Wound

Get some assistance. Your horse will be in pain and will probably still be upset from the experience. In fact, take a few slow deep breaths yourself before proceeding. Most likely, you won't be able to inspect the wound without another set of helping hands to steady the horse. Examine the wound paying attention its location, depth, and severity.

Call your veterinarian if the wound is:

- Bleeding excessively or spurting blood
- Very contaminated or dirty
- A deep puncture wound, or if anatomy beneath the skin layer can be seen
- Involving a joint
- Involving an eye
- If in doubt, better to err on the side of calling your veterinarian!

(Back to... First Aid For Horse Injuries - Cuts & Lacerations Part 1)

Fourth, Initial Wound Treatment

At this stage, the most critical need is to control excessive bleeding. Please remember that some bleeding is normal and actually helpful. It is the body's way of cleaning the wound. Control bleeding by applying firm, steady pressure with a sterile absorbent pad or a clean cloth. If you don't have first aid supplies available, bleeding can also be controlled with household items, such as a Maxi Pad or Feminine Napkin (the stick strip makes it easy to keep in place under a bandage), regular All-Purpose Flour will help to stop bleeding when applied to a wound. Once the bleeding is under control the next treatment steps involve cleaning the wound and preventing infection:

Clean and disinfect the wound (a mild soap works well) Wounds that are very dirty or already infected can be cleaned with a solution of mild soap and chlorhexidine. Be sure to consult a veterinarian before removing any penetrating objects. This could initiate additional bleeding which might become more severe or cause more damage to the wound. After the initial cleaning of the wound it will be important to protect it from further contamination or infection:

Apply a topical treatment and a bandage if needed.
We recommend: SCHREINER'S HERBAL SOLUTION ®

NOTE: The worst thing that you can do in treating a wound it to use alcohol, full strength Iodine or peroxide on it. This is a very common practice but these products actually burn or dry out the area causing damage to healthy tissue and making the wound slower to heal.

After completing the initial treatment, check your horse's immunization records and make sure her tetanus vaccinations are current. You know what to do if they are not current.(note: vaccinations of any kind are a hot topic these days, and every vet feels differently about vaccinations. Please discuss vaccination protocols thoroughly with your vet before making any decisions)

(Back to... First Aid For Horse Injuries - Cuts & Lacerations Part 1)